12 Days roundtrip
FROM NIOKOLO TO SALOUM RIVERSIDE
The Niokolo and Saloum eco-areas constitute both a real asset for the touristic destination in Senegal. The Niokolo Koba Parc was created in 1954 with an area spreading to 913 000 ha involving wild flora and fauna of all kinds. It is a real paradise for those who love the authentic nature.
Another attraction – the direct contact with Bassari and Bedick communities in their last natural environments. The architecture of their round houses and the quality of their welcome are worth visiting these site for feeling and sharing these moments of unforgettable meeting.
We cannot enjoy this exceptional trip without immersing into the Sine and Saloum eco-zones. The Saloum bay is classified by UNESCO among the most beautiful bays of the world. The abundance and density of the mangrove trees, the aquatic fauna constitute a real pleasure for satisfying our discovering dream.
We end this nice journey at the city Somone by a full relax.
Enduro and climatic adaptation (1)
Enduro and climatic adaptation: Baobabs, space, conviviality (2)
Day 1: EUROPE – AIBD AIRPORT – MBOUR (35 km / 20 min)
Welcome and assistance at the airport.
Transfer and overnight stay at the hotel (or similar accommodation structure) in the city Mbour.
Day 2: MBOUR – TAMBACOUNDA (365 km / 4h)
Great road cruise and crossing of the savannah. Meeting with the nomadic community Peul at their natural camp. The community originates from Niger and has preserved its original life style. Their dresses and jewelry, hair braiding and tattoos make the women appearing as princess. They are known for their very warm welcome.
Woman of the community Peulh – braiding and tatoo..
Nomad family in relocation: tradition and harmony
Day 3: TAMBA – NIOKOLO KOBA (140km/ 1h 30mn)
Tambacounda, a crossroad town and regional capital.
Visiting the market and railway station of the journey Dakar–Bamako (Mali).
Lunch.
In the afternoon, start to the Niokolo Koba Parc, one of the most important animal reserve in West Africa. It was inscribed in 1981 by UNESCO to the list of World Patrimony of biosphere reserves.
Overnight stay at the hotel Simenti or the encampment Le Lion (or similar accommodation structure)
Day 4: NIOKOLO KOBA – MAKO (180 km/ 5h)
Cruising by 4×4 at sunrise for discovering this wild large territory, its flora and fauna (monkeys, gazelles, rhinoceros, ….).
At the end of the park, way on to the mountainous region of Mako.
Overnight stay in eco–lodge nearby the river Gambia, a favorite area of hippopotamus.
Overnight stay in eco–lodge at Keur Annick or encampment Badiang (or similar accommodation structure).
Day 5: MAKO, BASSARI TERRITORY (130 km/ 3h)
Visit of the people community Bedick, which seems to be escaped of the time. They live concealed in between rocks, high at hills.
In the afternoon, road cruise to reach the Bassari territory. People here have eagerly and deeply preserved their customs and traditions, which make them like living out of the time. The specific education of the youth, rejection of the consumerism. A great surprise when discovering another civilisation, the contact with this community is made easy by the use of french language. It is one of the last community that has preserved its masks and practicing the unique traditional dance of masks.
Overnight stay at the eco–lodge Balingo (or similar accommodation structure) at Ethiolo.
Hiking at a hill – visiting the Bedik community
Village of the Bedik community
Day 6: BASSARI TERRITORY – FOUTA DJALON WATERFALLS (25 km/ 1h)
Walk throughout the hills, picnic.
Way to the mountain Fouta Djalon, the reservoir of all rivers in West Africa.
Walk at the sunset in the forest gallery of Dindefelo.
For Participants much more brave, a small climbing effort for reaching the top of the waterfalls and then admiring these magnificent and endless landscapes.
Overnight stay in the village of Dindefelo at the encampment le Dogon du Fouta or similar accommodation structure.
Natural refreshment – Waterfalls (1)
Natural refreshment – Waterfalls (2)
Day 7: KEDOUGOU – WASSADOU (240 km/ 2h50mn)
A road cruise through lateritite– ochre paths to reach Kédougou, a small city at the far South of Senegal.
Crossing of the river Gambia, where the community Mandingo is practicing a small–scale gold mining process on the river bank.
Overnight stay at the hotel encampment (or similar accommodation structure) of Wassadou, nearby the river Gambia.
Gold panners – artisanal techniques
Day 8: WASSADOU
Relax at the river bank at the shade of kapok trees for contemplating various and numerous birds of the region.
Overnight stay at the hotel encampment (or similar accommodation structure) of Wassadou.
Day 9: WASSADOU–BAMBOUNG (401km/ 4h 50mn )
Start for reaching the southern part of Saloum near the Gambian border. The Saloum bay is considered as one of the most beautiful in the world.
Sea link by pirogues to the protected marine area of Bamboung. It spreads over 3210 ha consisting of mangrove trees, savannah, waters and islands.
Overnight stay at the eco–lodge or similar accommodation structure of Keur Bamboung.
The incredible edge of the Bamboung (1)
Bamboung: ecolodge – landscape and admiration (2)
Bamboung: integration and environmental reconciliation (3)
Day 10: VISIT OF THE ECOLOGICAL SITE
A possibility of a walk along the savannah nearby the mangrove of the protected marine area of Bamboung. This zone is inhabited by farmers of the community Serer, deeply immersed in their tradition.
Ecology and Tourism: Eco-tourism!
Day 11: BAMBOUNG – SOMONE (185 km/ 3h)
Somone makes its difference by the location at the estuary of a small river of the same name.
The city has several private residences and a great hotel, Club Baobab.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel or similar accommodation structure in Somone.
Day 12: SOMONE–DAKAR –AIBD Airport (72km/ 1h)
Visit of the Gorée Island and Dakar.
Transfer to the AIBD Airport.
Goree island (1)
Goree island (2)
Goree island (3)
Goree Island: House of Slaves. Door of the «No Return» travel (4)